While coach Gregg Webb is quick to dispel any notion that his football team would stray from its smash-you-in-the-mouth style next season, he did admit Monday that next year’s Cardinals have the personnel to sling the football a bit more.

“We’re never going to be a team that throws the ball 30 times a game,” he said, smiling. “But this year we will have the option to pass.”

That is thanks in large part to returning quarterback Drew Noble, who has shown great touch in the weekly 7-on-7 practices in De Soto. Webb also has several weapons that have proven they have good enough hands to make defenses think twice before stacking the box.

“That’s the key,” Webb said. “We have a lot of talented athletes, so we’ll frustrate defenses if they try to double-team one player. Our ability to spread it out and pass a little more next year will definitely help open up things for our run game.”

In Eudora’s final 7-on-7 game of the summer Monday at De Soto, Noble connected with Coulter Vestal three times for touchdowns in the first scrimmage against rival De Soto — a feat that did not go unnoticed by his head coach.

“Vestal’s been a great addition to our football team,” Webb said. “If he stays healthy, he can be a real weapon for us next year.”

Noble had help on the other side, too. Christian Richardson, one of Webb’s returning wide receivers, showcased his ability to break the big one as he juked one De Soto defender in the open field. The move — which started with a head-fake right followed by a quick move back left — elicited several ‘oh’s and ah’s’ from players on both teams.

“He’s got good ability,” Webb said of the play. “I want to see him more consistent catching the ball, but he’s a good athlete and can make big plays.”

The Cardinals also showed improvement on defense — an aspect Webb said was stressed during 7-on-7 practices.

“We were better on defense tonight than we were at the beginning of the summer,” Webb said. “Last week we let some balls go over our heads for scores. We had five stops this week compared to just one last week.”